Hi again, Lois!     Thanks to you, I think I may have found Thomas' father, John Steel in Crookham.   
 
After sending off the e-mail to you, I decided to check Ancestry.com to see what I could find for a John Steel...   1851 census I found a John Steel, born @1813 who is a carpenter (which is same as "joiner", right?) and was living in Crookham...   with a new wife, Mary Anne, and 1 year old son, Robert.   It would be a logical guess to think that Mary Anne & John hadn't been married very long....  
 
In 1861 & 1871, he was still living in Crookham and they had two more children, a son John b. @ 1852 and daughter Mary b. @ 1856.   
 
In 1881, Mary Ann is still in Crookham and listed as a widow -- in her household are sons Robert & John (correct ages) who were both carpenters.
......a John Steel was listed as one of the witnesses at the marriage of Thomas Steel to Margaret Chirnside in 1882....  I had always wondered who this was -- probably it is this John Steel who was Thomas' half-brother.  
 
 
On the Death Index I found a John Steel, age 58, died Sep. Quarter 1871 in Glendale district, which I would assume must have been this John...   
 
I am going to order a death certificate/register for this John - but am pretty sure I'll find it is Thomas' father.    Will also see what I can do to find a marriage record for John to Mary Anne around 1848 or so.  
 
This is pretty exciting - I really think I have hit upon the right John Steel - the census index shows he is the only John Steel in Crookham - and the occupation and age are dead-on.  


This mother and son John living two doors away from Thomas and Margaret Tarbit in the 1891 census
1881 census
Isabella STEEL Head W Female 47 
 Kirknewton, Northumberland, England 
 Formerly Ag Lab 
  Isabella STEEL Daur U Female 
 Kirknewton, Northumberland, England 
 Dressmaker Apprentice 
  John STEEL 
 Son Male 13 
 Newcastle On Ty, Northumberland, England 
 Scholar 
  Source Information:
Dwelling  
MilfieldCensus Place
Milfield, Northumberland, England
Family History Library Film  
1342239
Public Records Office Reference  


RG11Piece / Folio  5134 / 65 Page Number  3

Isabella and John still there together in 1901 census

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Father: John Steel, Mother: Isabella
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International Genealogical Index / British Isles - 5

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1. MARY ISABELLA STEEL - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 20 APR 1874 Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England


2. ELIZABETH STEEL - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 28 JAN 1869 Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England


3. JOHN STEEL - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 30 SEP 1865 Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England


4. WILLIAM STEEL - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 30 SEP 1865 Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England


5. ANN STEEL - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 31 JAN 1861 Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England